"On the rocks," prophesied McGuire Ellis. "Utter and complete shipwreck. I'm glad I'm off."
"Is it your habit, Mr. Ellis, to run at the first suggestion of disaster?"
Ellis looked his questioner up and down. "Say the rest of it," he barked.
"Why, it seems to me you're still an officer of this ship. Doesn't it enter into your ethics somewhere that you ought to stick by her until the new captain can fill your place, and not quit in the face of the shipwreck you foresee?"
"Humph," grunted McGuire Ellis, "I guess you're not quite as young as I thought you were. How long would you want me to stay?"
"About a year."
"What!"
"On an unbreakable contract. To be editorial manager. You see, I'm prepared to buy ideals."
"What about my opinion of amateur journalism?"
"You'll just have to do the best you can about that."